The Bicentennial Half Dollar coin is also known as the 1776-1976 Half Dollar coin. This coin was minted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The coin features the Liberty Bell on one side, the Moon on the other, and the inscription “1776-1976” appears on both sides. The Bicentennial Half Dollar was minted for circulation from 1975 to 1976, and it has a composition of 40% silver.
It’s worth noting that there are two types of 1776-1976 Half Dollar coins: the Bicentennial Half Dollar, which was minted for circulation and is the most common, and the Eisenhower Dollar, which was also minted for circulation but is slightly larger and has a different design.
The value of an Eisenhower Dollar is generally higher than a Bicentennial Half Dollar and can be worth around $8 to $15 in uncirculated condition and $3 to $6 in circulated condition.
Approximately 630 million Bicentennial Half Dollars were minted, making them relatively common today. But how much is the value of these rear coins? Some particular varieties of coins can be worth much more. This article will discuss that and more of the coin in detail.
Related: 1971 Half Dolar Value – Mint, Errors And Worth
Table of Contents
What Is a 1776-1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar Worth?
A 1776-1976 Bicentennial half dollar is worth about $6 to $8, depending on its condition. These coins were minted to commemorate the United States bicentennial and are composed of silver. They are rare, and their value has increased over time.
Related: What Makes a 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar Rare?
A few factors can affect the value of Bicentennial Half Dollar coins, such as their condition and whether or not they have been in circulation. If you have one of these coins, it is worth holding onto!
Site: 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar Value – Mint Mark, No Mint, City
What Makes a 1776 to 1976 Half Dollar Valuable?
A few factors contribute to making 1776 to 1976 half dollars valuable. First, the coin must be in good condition. This means that it should not contain heavy scratches or damage in any way.
Secondly, the coin should be of high quality – meaning that it was struck well and is free of any blemishes or imperfections. Lastly, the coin should be rare. This can be determined by looking up its mintage numbers and comparing it to other years/denominations.
If a 1776 to 1976 half-dollar has all of these things going for it, it is considered valuable and worth collecting.
Related: 1921 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value – A Complete Guide
Are the Bicentennial 50 Cent Pieces Worth Anything?
The Bicentennial 50-cent piece in uncirculated condition or special features can be worth more. For example, a proof coin with the “S” mint mark is worth around $8, while an uncirculated coin without the mint mark can fetch up to $20.
The Bicentennial 50-cent piece was minted in the United States in 1976 to commemorate the country’s 200th anniversary. The coin material is copper and nickel.
Related: 1964 D Penny – Features, Errors And Value
1776 to 1976 Half Dollar Error List
The list of errors in the 1776–1976 dollars includes major and minor errors and a description of each error.
Some of the more notable errors on the list include:
- The 1804 “No Stars” Half Dollar, without any stars on the obverse side.
- The 1877 “Half Dollar with Inverted Depiction of Liberty” featured an upside-down depiction of Liberty on the obverse.
- The 1943 “Bronze Cent” mistake was using a copper planchet instead of a zinc-coated steel planchet.
Related: A Deep Dive Into the 2 Dollar Bill – From Pop Culture To Presidential Portraits
While most of the errors on the list are rare and valuable, a few are relatively common and can be found in circulation today. These include the 1972 “No S” Proof Half Dollar, which is without the “S” mintmark, and the 1974-D “In God We Trust” Variety I Half Dollar, which lacks the usual motto on the obverse.
Related: 1944 Wheat Penny Value – A Complete Guide
Rare 1776-1976 Half Dollar
The 1776-1976 Half Dollar minting was to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States Declaration of Independence. Jack L. Ahr designed the coin, and it took place in Philadelphia and Denver. The Philadelphia coins have a “P” mintmark, while the Denver coins have a “D” mintmark. The coin’s obverse features a portrait of Liberty with the date “1776-1976” below her.
Related: 1896 Silver Dollar Value
The coin’s reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings holding a laurel wreath and an olive branch. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR” are also inscribed on the coin’s reverse side.
The 1776-1976 Half Dollar is a modern rarity, as only 6,812,730 were minted. Furthermore, many of these coins were melted down or lost over time, making them even rarer. If you are lucky enough to find one of these coins, it is worth hanging on to!
Related: 1943 Steel Penny Value in 2023
1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar Value
The value of the 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar depends on its condition and whether it is the clad or silver version. Uncirculated examples of the clad version are worth around $2.
The 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar is a commemorative coin minted to celebrate the United States 200th anniversary of independence. The coin’s obverse (front) design features a Liberty bell superimposed over the Moon, with the inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “1976”. The coin’s reverse (back) design features the U.S. Capitol building surrounded by 13 stars, with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
Related: 1937 Buffalo Nickel Value in 2023
The 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar is available in clad and silver versions. The clad version, composed of an outer layer of copper-nickel bonded to an inner core of pure copper, has a diameter of 30.61 mm and a weight of 11.34 grams. The silver version, composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, has a diameter of 30.61 mm and a weight of 11.34 grams. Both versions have reeded edges.
The clad version of the 1976 Bicentennial Half Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage limit of 40 million coins. The silver version was also struck at the Philadelphia Mint, but its mintage was limited to 4 million coins.
Related: 1922 Silver Dollar Value – Complete Guide
Conclusion
The Bicentennial Half Dollar is a coin with a lot of history and meaning. While its value will fluctuate over time, many collectors still consider it a valuable coin. If you have one of these coins in your possession, ensure you hold onto it tightly – who knows how much it could be worth in the future!
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30 comments
I have bicentennial Ike dollars and bicentennial Kennedy halves, should I keep them?
One thing I hate about this business is the coon graders are always looking to rip you off, just keep everything!
Thank You for all the information, and
The hard work that has been done (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤.
I’ve been a bit of a collector for a long time, and I appreciate you guy’s!!!
Are you sure that you want to get your info from THIS article? If you’ve been a collector for a bit, then you should know that this article is completely incorrect. I would gather my info elsewhere if I were you.
Kim, so were you as amazed at the contradictive elements, the misconceptions, or the udder conflicting details that could in noway be contrived from a instance of being confused by, or mistaking for something of not dissimilar aspects. It was fantastic in it’s way of making me wonder or imagine what some of those variations would be like, eagles bells, moons, and miss lady liberty. All my coins, just have ol’ Jonny kennedy, and the independence hall. Now I know, what to be hoping to find…
This article had me laughing and banging my head against the wall at the same time! I mean, it’s silver, it’s copper-clad, it’s rare, it could be rare, it’s a half-dollar, it’s an Eisenhower dollar, it has an error for 1877 but it’s a bicentennial coin? What? Maybe I could get a job writing articles if you don’t really have to even know what you’re writing about? 🙃 🤯 WOW!!!
As another reader and hobbyist, please list what is incorrect and how you know. It helps us all and it gives validity to your remarks and claims. Thank you.
I have a 1965 coin – what can I do with this ….. Please I need some assistance …
I have a 1964 half dollar an a 1921 Morgan should I keep or sell
I haven’t seen any bicentennial half dollar with liberty portrait an bell over the moon like you sad.
The bicentennial half dollar depicts Independence Hall on the coins reverse; the reverse of the bicentennial one dollar coin features the Liberty Bell over the Moon.
You’re not going to see one either because it doesn’t exist. The liberty bell and moon are on an Eisenhower bicentennial DOLLAR but not on a half-dollar, and there is no half dollar with a Liberty portrait. That’s only a FEW comments in the article that were wrong. I’m not trying to criticize, I’m just trying to point out mistakes in the information given.(but there are way too many) 😅 🙃 😔
This is the most nonsensical jarbled bunch of garbagebI have evr read!
Does anyone proof read these things.
It is completely erroneous in almost evety way. Why would someone that obviously knows nothing about the subject try to write an article about it.
Or if they are going to write about sonething at least look at some pictures or something.
OMG, thank you!!! I was beginning to think that I was reading this in my sleep or something. I couldn’t make any sense out of this article. I lost count of the different coins it described as being a bicentennial half dollar. I was like, “Uh, no.” Thank you for the validation!
Yes I see my spelling mistakes. I can barely see my phone and there is no way to edit a post after it is written that I know of.
I can get past spelling mistakes, and even grammar mistakes. But when they start misrepresenting facts the way this one did, it’s just too much to overlook. I’m just SO glad that someone else was able to catch on to it. Maybe nobody else actually even read the whole thing?! Again, thank you for the validation.
I have one coin shall I get a buyer now
Got a misprint 11961 quarter! Know my grandson will holdon to it. It’s not a half of a dollar, but hopefully he can buy a car one day.
I had purchased a sealed silver set a few years back, how do I know if the coins are really are silver or clad.
Weigh them, they should be heavier.
Where do you get your coins? I just started collecting.
I have a few of those 1776 fifty cent coins and would like to get rid of them do I have any buyer’s.
I have some quarters to honor the establishment of the states!
Also, I have pennies and etc!
OMG, thank you!!! I was beginning to think that I was reading this in my sleep or something. I couldn’t make any sense out of this article. I lost count of the different coins it described as being a bicentennial half dollar. I was like, “Uh, no.” Thank you for the validation!
1 have some wheat penny’s all types of years looking to sell.
It’s very clear you have no idea what you’re talking about in regards to bicentennial half dollar and one dollar coins.
The vast majority of these coins found in circulation are worth only their respective fifty cent and one dollar face values or at best, slightly above face value. Their high mintage likely precludes their ever becoming especially rare or valuable. The silver clad (40% silver) versions are almost never found in circulation and those that are usually are worn or damaged to the point they are worth only face value plus their silver content, between around $3 to $6.
One big thing this article missed was the Bicentennial reverse error. I have several and if you look at the wording on back
BICENTENNIAL HALL a number of coins escaped detection from a worn die
The end letters in BICENTENNIAL (IAL) AND the beginning of the word HALL (HA & sometimes L) are missing. There were only a handful that made it out before it was detected. These coins are rare do to the fact that the Bi-Centenial coins had limited numbers made. Also look for the RPM ones as well (re-punched & filled mint marks usually seen in the D mints)
I assume you meant “Independence Hall”, not “Bicentennial Hall”?
This author knows absolutely nothing about coins. this article contradicts itself repeatedly throughout the entire piece.
I have a bicentennial half that is all copper. I picked it up at the bank. Any thoughts about this? There is no link to send you a photo.
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